Vanara Village – The Next Morning, 6 AM
The sun rose over the village, its light glinting off the iron shackles being fastened around the wrists of the men. Guards dressed in black moved down the line, chaining them one by one, preparing to take them to work.
The men stood quietly, helpless, as their families watched from their doorways.
Inside one of the houses, Rana peeked through a small window, watching his father being shackled. His father caught his gaze and smiled faintly, mouthing the words, "Don't worry."
Rana smiled back.
He wasn't the only one. Every man in that line wore the same smile — a fragile, gentle lie meant to comfort their children, to make them believe everything was fine. They stood tall, pretending to be strong, hiding the truth in their eyes.
But once they were led out of the village and past the last row of homes, the smiles faded. The truth returned to their faces — tired, hollow, and heavy with despair. Some looked terrified. Others simply wept in silence.
All of them were being taken to work for Khumba.
_____________________________________________________________________
Somewhere in the deep forest. Kodoku Town.
A man draped in a dark cape walked through the silent streets, his boots echoing softly against the cobblestones. The town lay still—too still. Not a voice, not a whisper, only the faint rustle of wind between narrow alleys.
He made his way toward the palace at the center, a looming structure that towered above the quiet settlement. Inside, the grand hall was filled with people—thousands standing in perfect rows, facing the throne where Kashi sat. Their eyes were dull, their faces motionless, like lifeless dolls awaiting command.
The caped man strode forward. As he passed through the crowd, his shoulder brushed against several of them, but none moved. They didn't react, didn't even blink. He continued until he stood before the throne.
Bowing slightly, the man reached into his coat and produced a sealed letter. His voice was steady but carried the weight of a long journey.
"Bokto-sama sent this message for you last night, Kashi-sama. I came as fast as I could."
The scar across his cheek—shaped like a sharp V—caught the torchlight as he spoke. Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked back through the unmoving crowd, disappearing into the palace shadows.
Kashi took the letter, unfolding it slowly. His eyes moved across the page in silence.
`Lord Kashi, I am going to meet the Buyer from the Umbra Continent at the Bhoga Bar tonight. Every indication suggests our plans are sound. As requested, I will confirm the final contract details and relay the terms back to you later. Know that I will ensure this deal is secured.`
He read each word carefully, but his expression remained still—until the faintest smirk curved his lips. Leaning back in his throne, he tapped his finger on the armrest, his gaze distant, calculating.
"Interesting…" he murmured.
It wasn't the message itself that drew his interest—
but what was hidden between the lines.
_____________________________________________________________________
Hina's Mansion 8 PM
Gyoda was still fast asleep, sprawled across his bed in his bright orange nightwear. He was cuddling his new weapon like a body pillow, sheets tangled everywhere.
Downstairs, Kenta, Fumiko, Karna, Reiko, and Haruto were already having breakfast. The aroma filled the dining hall and slowly crept through the mansion corridors until it reached Gyoda's room.
Still asleep, Gyoda sniffed the air, clutched his enhancer tightly, and began walking—eyes closed. He stumbled out of his room, down the stairs, and into the dining hall, where he bumped straight into the table.
Everyone turned toward him, baffled—except Kenta, Karna and Reiko, who didn't even flinch.
Rin, the maid, blinked in confusion. "Um…?"
Kenta stood up calmly. "Don't worry. He's just sleepwalking. Happens whenever he smells food."
He guided Gyoda to a chair and scooped a spoonful of food into his mouth. Instantly, Gyoda began chewing in his sleep.
Haruto stared, utterly baffled. "You guys never cease to surprise me."
Before long, as they were finishing their meal, Jacob entered the room. "The guest your sister mentioned—the one who'll be training you—is waiting in the hall, young master."
Karna blinked. "Already? It's only eight in the morning."
Haruto nodded. "Please ask them to wait a few minutes, Jacob."
Jacob bowed and left.
"I don't even know who my sister asked to come," Haruto admitted.
Kenta grinned. "I'm excited."
Haruto smiled faintly. "Me too—but let's hurry. It'd be rude to keep them waiting."
They quickly finished eating and headed for the hall, pushing the still-sleeping Gyoda along. When they entered, the sofa was facing away from them, so they had to come around to see who it was.
Haruto's eyes brightened instantly. "Beck-san! It's you! You're the one my sister asked to train them?"
Beck looked up with a warm, polite smile. "Yes"
Karna's eyes went wide. "It's him—the officer from yesterday! Is he here to arrest us?"
Reiko smacked him on the head. "He's here to train us, you idiot."
She turned toward Beck and bowed politely. "I'm sorry about that. I'm Reiko. That's Fumiko, Gyoda, Kenta, and Karna."
Beck gave a polite nod, his tone calm and steady. "Good to make your acquaintance. My name is Beck."
Haruto chuckled. "Looks like you guys are gonna have it rough! Beck-san is a B-class wizard and leader of a squad at the council."
Beck with a smirk—"What do you mean they are going to have it rough. You are going to train as well!"
Haruto blinked. "Me? Why? I already get enough training and education at the academy. Besides, I'm older and stronger than them."
Beck crossed his arms, his tone firm but polite. "Haruto, this was your sister's personal request. And you're only three years older—it hardly makes a difference. You still have a lot of room to grow."
Haruto frowned. "She asked you to train me too? But—"
Beck interrupted gently. "Haruto, you need to get stronger—to prove that you're worthy of your goal. You're aiming to become the commander of the army, aren't you? Then live up to it. You carry the Mizuwoka name, after all."
Haruto nodded reluctantly. "Yes."
Karna, Reiko, Fumiko, and Kenta all spoke at once. "Mizuwoka??"
Haruto stiffened, startled. "Umm… yes?"
Kenta leaned forward. "We didn't know you were from one of the Five Ancient Clans."
Haruto sighed. "Let me guess—Goro didn't tell you."
Karna said, "Yes!"
Haruto smiled awkwardly. "Don't make a big deal out of it though. My family's from a distant branch—far from the main line. Hardly pure-blooded Mizuwoka anymore."
Beck clapped his hands lightly, his tone still courteous. "Alright, I heard you're done with your breakfast. In that case, shall we begin the training? Be warned, I will be very strict!"
Kenta carefully took the enhancer from Gyoda's hands and placed it against the wall in the hall, asking one of the butlers to keep it safe. Karna and Kenta then shook Gyoda awake, dragging him to his feet. He was still half-asleep, still in his orange nightwear.
The group stepped out into the morning light.
Hina's mansion stood near the outskirts of Vashya City, surrounded by open fields and quiet forest. Beck led them behind the estate, followed by Rin and Jacob. They walked past the gardens until the path opened to a wide grassland bordered by a shimmering lake and a forest beyond.
The sight was beautiful. Sunlight danced over the water, and a cool breeze swept through the grass.
Gyoda yawned loudly. "I don't want to train," he muttered, walking straight to a tree, lying down beneath it, and falling asleep again.
Beck sighed softly. "Alright. Let's start with physical training. I want to test your physical endurance. All five of you—run around the lake fifty times."
Kenta, Karna, Reiko, Fumiko, and Haruto gawked.
"Fifty times? Around this lake? That's way too much for testing our endurance!"
Beck continued calmly. "And the guy who's sleeping behind the tree—he'll do an extra fifty rounds."
They turned to see Gyoda missing. Reiko stomped toward the tree and smacked him on the head.
Gyoda jolted up. "Oi! That hurt!!" He rubbed his head, finally awake.
Reiko glared. "Come and stand with us."
"Okay, okay…" he muttered, joining them.
Haruto frowned. "Beck-san, this isn't fair. The lake's perimeter is at least 2 miles! You're asking us to run nearly 100 miles!"
Beck smiled faintly. "Have you guys ever heard about the Pentagon Valley?"
The air grew tense. Karna, Kenta, and Reiko reacted immediately, their faces stiffening.
Gyoda was busy rubbing his scalp.
Fumiko looked puzzled. "Pentagon Valley?"
Haruto nodded. "Yes. It's the largest valley in the world—so vast that they say a quarter of the Adri Kingdom could fit inside. It used to be a lake, long ago—the Pentagon Lake. It was said that the Five Elemental Spirits used to gather there once in a while. There's a legend that someone once fought all five elemental spirits at that very place. The battle was so fierce that it vaporized the lake itself and shattered the earth. It changed the geography of that region —and what once was a lake became the Pentagon Valley we know today."
Karna's eyes darkened.
Fumiko's voice softened. "Someone fought the elemental spirits? All five of them?"
Haruto nodded. "Yes. Every one of them."
Fumiko blinked, disbelief in her tone. "But… who could possibly fight five elemental spirits alone? Who was that person?"
Karna looked down, his voice heavy and quiet, carrying the weight of sadness.
"Ashijiki. Balda Ashijiki. He was the one who fought the five elemental spirits. He was the one who changed the fate of my clan that day. He was the reason the Mighty Sun Spirit blessed our clan with their power."
Beck broke the quiet gently. "Yes! And when it was still a lake, the founders of the Five Ancient Clans trained there under the elemental spirits themselves."
Haruto's eyes widened. "Really?"
Beck nodded. "Yes. And tales say that during their training, they used to run a hundred times around that lake in a single day."
Everyone looked stunned. "That's incredible!"
Beck smiled politely. "And do you know the perimeter of that lake?"
They all shook their heads.
"Five hundred miles."
Their eyes went wide.
Gyoda gasped. "No way!! So they ran like 25,621 miles in a day?!"
Karna shot him a deadpan look. "You idiot, it's fifty thousand miles. How did you even get that number?"
Reiko crossed her arms. "That's like two thousand miles an hour."
Kenta whistled. "Two and a half times the speed of sound!"
Everyone shouted in unison. "That's insane!"
Beck continued. "And they were only teenagers."
Fumiko's eyes widened. "That… that's incredible."
Beck smiled. "Yeah—and they wouldn't even break a sweat after that."
Haruto grinned. "Awesome. They must've been unbelievably strong to achieve something like that."
Beck nodded. "Exactly. So, if you want to grow stronger, you can at least try running fifty rounds around this lake. If you can't make it, run as many as you can. But if you're serious about strength—that's the bare minimum you should aim for."
Kenta crossed his arms. "Fine! We'll try."
Reiko turned to Fumiko. "If you feel tired, you can stop halfway. I doubt I'll make it past forty rounds myself."
Fumiko looked at her in disbelief. "Forty rounds? You should have very good stamina to even run that much!"
Beck checked his pocket watch. "Alright—it's eight-thirty now. I'll give you until two p.m. to complete this task."
Kenta began muttering numbers under his breath. "Let's see… 50 laps, about 2 miles each… that's roughly a 100 miles. 6 hours to finish means around 17 miles per hour on average. Not bad—it's an endurance test anyway. Maybe Beck wants to see what we are capable of before training us."
Beck smiled. "Good. Now line up and get ready to sprint. And no cheating—Jacob will be keeping an eye on you."
They all formed a line beside the lake, ready to start. Haruto looked a bit hesitant.
Beck pointed at Gyoda. "And you, orange head—don't forget you have to run an extra fifty laps. Remember that, Jacob. That's for slacking off while I was talking earlier."
Jacob nodded politely.
Gyoda's jaw dropped. "What?! That's not fair—"
"Go!!" Beck's voice cut him off.
Everyone except Gyoda took off instantly. Kenta led, followed by Reiko, Karna, Haruto, and Fumiko.
Gyoda blinked between Beck and the others, still processing. "Huh?!" He finally bolted. "Hold on!!"
He sprinted fast, passing Fumiko and Haruto, catching up to Karna. Soon, they were running side by side.
Karna glanced at him. "You're pretty fast for someone half-asleep."
Gyoda grinned. "I'm not just fast—I'm clever. See, I don't need to run faster than you right away. I just need to match your pace, make you think we're even, and when you least expect it—boom—I overtake you at the end."
Kenta, catching up behind them, sighed with an exasperated smile. "You two do realize this isn't a race, right? It's just to test our physical limits. Just pick a pace you can maintain."
Karna shot back, "You're an idiot, Gyoda. You can't 'win' anything by running at my pace—you've got fifty more laps than the rest of us. You'll have to be a lot faster than me to actually finish first."
Kenta groaned. "There is no 'first' or 'last' here! It's not a competition!"
Gyoda laughed. "Oh, I know. It's not a race—"
Kenta blinked. "Finally, someone gets it—"
Gyoda finished proudly, "It's a test to see who is the strongest of us all. And the strongest shall prevail."
Kenta's face went pale. "What?? No!!"
Gyoda smirked. "Think about it. Beck-san saw through our strengths instantly. He gave me extra laps because I'm stronger than you guys. That's why I have to push my limits."
Kenta bit his teeth. "That's not it, you idiot!"
Karna smirked. "Then I too will run 100 laps."
Kenta frustrated. "What?"
Karna "I will finish the 100 laps before you and prove that I'm stronger than you"
Kenta finally snapped, slapping both their heads mid-run. "You two are hopeless!"
Behind them, Haruto muttered, "I'll start slow and keep my pace. If I do that, I should manage fifty rounds." Fumiko quietly followed.
Up ahead, Karna shouted, "Gyoda, I'm picking up the pace!"
"Bring it on!" Gyoda yelled, speeding up too.
Kenta shouted after them, "You idiots, you don't need to run faster!"
Both turned and grinned. "You can run slower if you want—we're planning to get stronger! So we will go ahead."
Kenta groaned, teeth clenched. "I knew it would come to this. They have to turn everything into a competition." He sighed—and then started running faster himself. "Damn it! If those two maniacs run a hundred laps and I only do fifty, they'll end up stronger than me. I can't let that happen! I have to run 100 laps too!"
Reiko sighed. "Those idiots."
Beck watched from a distance, a faint smile forming on his face. "Good," he murmured quietly. "They've got spirit."
_____________________________________________________________________
Fhog City was the shadow the capital chose to ignore. Narrow alleys wound between crooked buildings, their windows dim behind layers of soot. The air carried the smell of smoke, alcohol, and quiet deals made out of sight. Gambling dens, black markets, and brothels filled the backstreets, each running by its own rules. Here, money and power decided everything.
Even in broad daylight, the streets never felt safe.
Hina and Goro walked through one of the narrow alleys, keeping their hoods low. A man brushed past them, bumping into Hina's shoulder. She stumbled slightly, catching herself. The man turned briefly — a faint smirk on his lips, a V-shaped scar running down his cheek.
"I'm sorry," he said smoothly. "Didn't see you there."
"It's fine," Hina replied and kept walking. The man disappeared into the crowd behind them.
When they reached a quieter alley, Goro spoke. "So, he's your informer, huh?"
Hina smiled faintly. "Yeah. I'm not surprised you noticed. Most wizards wouldn't have caught what just happened."
She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small folded slip of paper — the one the informer had slipped into her hand during the bump.
Unfolding it, she read silently:
'Kashi's informer's name is Bokto. He's currently in the southern part of the city and will be at Bhoga Bar tonight to finalize a weapons deal. The place will be crawling with criminals—most are D-rank or higher. Expect C-ranks, and in the worst case, a few B-rank wizards..'
Hina frowned. "I thought so. That's the most dangerous part of the city. Most of the underworld activity happens there — it's practically crawling with criminals."
Goro crossed his arms. "This is bad."
"Yeah," Hina muttered, clicking her tongue. "I didn't expect B-class wizards in a small city like this. God damn it."
Goro's tone was calm. "Well, we don't have much of a choice."
Hina nodded. "Yeah. Let's just hope we don't run into any B-class or higher wizards."
_____________________________________________________________________
Behind Hina's Mansion
Haruto was gasping for air, sweat dripping down his face.
"That's… gasp twenty-five rounds…" he muttered, his legs wobbling.
Just as he slowed down, a loud commotion came from behind. He turned—only to see Gyoda, Karna, and Kenta sprinting toward him at full speed.
"Out of the way, Haruto-san!" Gyoda yelled as they blew past him, the gust nearly spinning him around.
"Forty-five!" Karna shouted. "I'm gonna beat you guys and win this challenge!"
"The hell you are!" Kenta shot back.
Haruto blinked in disbelief. How much longer are they going to keep running? he thought. I'm already at my limit, and they're not even out of breath… How much stamina do they have?
Under the shade of a nearby tree, Fumiko was sipping water while Reiko walked over, wiping the sweat from her neck.
Fumiko offered her a flask. "Reiko-san, how many laps have you done so far?"
Reiko, catching her breath but still steady, replied, "Forty-three. What about you?"
Fumiko gave a shy laugh. "Well… it's a bit embarrassing. I only managed twenty-five."
Reiko smiled. "That's not bad, you know. You did great."
Fumiko sighed. "I almost fainted on my twenty-fifth lap. Rin-san had to carry me back to the shade and get me some water." She paused, glancing toward the track. "But they're still going…"
On the field, Haruto had slowed to a walk, nearly out of strength. A moment later, the trio came charging behind him and accidentally bumped into him, sending him tumbling right beside Reiko and Fumiko
Haruto sat up, groaning. "How dare you! You idiots!!" He ran after them again, still fuming.
Reiko chuckled softly. "Yeah… they're really energetic. They used to sneak off into the forest all the time when we were kids, even in the heat. I guess that's paying off now. Still, a hundred laps is too much for them."
Fumiko's eyes widened. "A hundred?! I thought Karna and Kenta were joking!"
Reiko shook her head. "Of course not. They're serious. Even I'll be running a hundred."
"You too?! But why?" Fumiko asked.
Reiko smiled faintly. "We don't want him to feel left out—or get punished alone. We look out for each other. And honestly… we don't want to fall behind either."
She paused, her eyes softening as she watched Gyoda run in the distance. "He always used to feel left out, you know. Back then, he was the last among us to learn magic. He couldn't use it until he was eight. While we trained together, he'd just sit nearby, watching. But at night, he'd sneak out to practice alone. He felt awful that he couldn't keep up with us. We all thought he didn't have any magic at all… but we had no choice—we had to keep training."
A small, nostalgic smile crossed her face. "Then he awakened his magic. After that, we refused to train for a while—said we wouldn't do it again until Gyoda caught up. Our old man was furious. He told us Gyoda would learn at his own pace, but we didn't listen. That day, we made a promise—we'd do everything together. Learn, train, fight… even share our punishments."
A smile spread across Fumiko's face, and a sense of warmth and admiration welled up within her.
Reiko exhaled, her expression firm but fond. "So if Gyoda's running a hundred laps, then we'll run with him."
Fumiko looked at her warmly, then turned her gaze to the others running in the distance.
Reiko stretched. "Well, I'd better go before I lose track."
"Yeah," Fumiko said softly. "Good luck."
Reiko nodded and jogged back toward the track.
A voice spoke behind Fumiko. "So, they're all going to run a hundred laps, huh?"
Fumiko jumped slightly and turned. "Ah! Beck-san—I didn't see you there."
Beck smiled faintly. "They seem close."
Fumiko's eyes lingered on Karna and the others. "Yeah… they really are."
Beck continued. "You know, most people would avoid being around a Twilight. Given the hate Ashijiki's faced… I'd say he's very lucky to have friends like you and I'm glad."
Fumiko looked down for a moment, then back at Karna, watching him run with quiet determination.
Beck's gaze followed hers. "Whatever they're training for… I hope they make it."
Rin appeared from the mansion, carrying a tray. "Everyone! I brought some refreshments!"
Haruto, mid-lap, instantly perked up. "Yes! I was getting really thirsty!" He ran straight toward her.
"Haruto-sama," Rin said, bowing slightly. "I didn't see you there. Are you done training?"
"Not yet," Haruto replied, grabbing a drink. "Halfway there!" He took a big gulp and sighed in relief. "Ahh… that hits the spot."
Fumiko also reached for one, smiling as she took a sip.
Meanwhile, on the track, Gyoda glanced over. "Yay! Refreshments! Let's go grab some!"
Karna, eyes blazing with determination, shouted, "Not yet! We're only at forty-eight laps. We're not done! You guys can take a break, but I won't rest until I finish all hundred!"
Kenta groaned. "You idiot! It's fine to take a break!"
Gyoda slowed down, head drooping dramatically, tears welling in his eyes.
Kenta frowned. "See, you idiot? You've upset him. He's dying of thirst."
Gyoda suddenly looked up, face shining with newfound resolve. "Karna!!"
Karna and Kenta turned to him.
Gyoda clenched his fists. "What a fool I was… giving up training for a drink! Karna, you've opened my eyes. I won't even drink water until I finish my hundred laps!"
Kenta nearly tripped. "You brainless idiots!! Why am I stuck with you two?!"
Gyoda and Karna picked up the pace, running even faster.
Kenta sighed, his thoughts racing. These idiots… I could really use a drink right now. But if I stop, they'll tease me for the rest of my life—say I had to take a break or I'd faint halfway through.
He could already picture their smug, mocking faces.
Damn it… I have to keep running!
He gritted his teeth and sped up after them.
A little later, Haruto and Fumiko joined them.
_____________________________________________________________________
The Iron Wheel and Axle Industry. 1 PM
The factory rang with a harsh rhythm — the clang of hammers mixed with the rattle of chains. The air was thick with heat and ash, heavy enough to choke on. Guards clad in black stood watch, their cold eyes fixed on the shackled men at work.
Among the noise, one man hummed softly as he spoke to the worker beside him.
"Oi," he muttered. "When are they going to send the rations to our village? It's been a week."
"Keep it down," the other warned quickly. "Or they'll punish you!"
"How can I?" the first man snapped under his breath. "My family hasn't eaten in days. If they don't get the rations today, my children will starve."
The sound of boots scraped against the floor.
A guard turned sharply. "What's the chatter about? Keep it down and work!"
The man clenched his fists, his voice trembling as he muttered, "We haven't received our rations yet…"
The guard's eyes narrowed. "Huh? What did you say?"
At that moment, Koren appeared — walking calmly between the work lines, his gloved hand covering his mouth as he chuckled to himself, eyes half-closed in amusement.
The man hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind. He rose to his feet. His companion tried to stop him, grabbing his wrist, but he shoved the hand away and stood firm.
Koren's steps slowed. He turned his head slightly, intrigued.
The guard snapped, "Oi! What are you doing? Get back to work!"
Koren chuckled lightly. "What's this? Why are my little ants not working?"
"Forgive me, Koren-sama, I—" the guard began, but the man's trembling voice cut through him.
"Koren-sama!" he called out, bowing slightly. His voice was quiet but desperate—the kind that cracked from fear.
Koren smiled, lowering his gloved hand. "Yes, my dear, valuable asset?"
"We… we haven't received our rations yet," the man said.
Koren's eyes half-closed, his voice smooth and amused. "So?"
The man froze. His throat tightened. "So…?" he repeated weakly, before blurting out, "Our families will starve if we don't get food today!"
Koren tilted his head, amused. "They'll receive rations when we decide it's necessary. What matters isn't them—it's you. Your hands, your labor. That's what keeps our schedule running."
"But, Koren-sama," the man stammered, "our families need food! Most of them are —"
"Enough!" the guard barked, raising his sword. "Get back to work before I cut your arm off!"
Koren chuckled again, waving a finger. "No, no. Let's not damage his valuable hands. They are an asset"
He made a small twisting gesture with his fingers.
A sharp sound cut through the air—then a wet splash.
The man dropped to his knees, choking—a dark trail of blood running down his chin. His tongue hit the ground and rolled toward the furnace, hissing as it burned away.
Silence fell. The clang of hammers had stopped. Everyone's heads bowed instantly, hands trembling as they forced themselves back to work faster than before.
The guard turned. "What should we do with him, Koren-sama?"
Koren bent slightly at the waist, his gloved hand resting on his knee as he leaned closer. His tone was soft, almost gentl.
"He's one of our precious workers. We can't let him bleed to death, can we?"
He flicked his fingers again. From across the hall, a heated iron rod flew through the air. Catching it by the cool end, Koren pressed the glowing tip against the man's tongue.
The scream that followed echoed through the hall.
"There, there," Koren said gently, removing the rod. "The bleeding's stopped." He chuckled. "Now put him back to work."
The guard dragged the man up and shoved him toward his station.
Just then, another guard came running in, breathless. "Koren-sama! Koren-sama!"
Koren chuckled lightly. "Calm down. What's the matter?"
"Sir—we've found the kid who got food from the city."
For a heartbeat, silence hung in the air. Then Koren's shoulders began to tremble with excitement. A strange smile crept across his face, stretching wider as his eyes gleamed with a feverish light.
"Excellent… excellent!" he cried, his voice cracking with manic joy. He threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing through the molten hall.
"Everything is going as planned!!" he said, voice trembling with delight. "We've found the boy, we're on schedule, and everyone is working hard doing their jobs perfectly. Khumba-sama will be so pleased."
He tilted his head back, eyes wide, staring up into the smoky ceiling as if awaiting divine praise. Then, spreading his arms wide as though basking in invisible light, he whispered,
"He might even appreciate me this time…"
A shudder ran through him before laughter tore free again—soft at first, then swelling, echoing wildly across the vast chamber.
The sound clawed at the walls, rising higher, sharper, until it no longer sounded human.
The workers froze mid-swing. Even the guards stiffened, unease flickering across their faces. No one dared move. No one dared breathe.
Koren's laughter rolled through the hall like thunder—mad, triumphant, and terrifying.
And as Koren finally turned to leave, his laughter slowly faded, swallowed by the hiss of molten metal.
The air felt heavier as it died — thick with fear and dread.
_____________________________________________________________________
Behind Hina's Mansion. 2 PM
Reiko, still catching her breath, leaned forward with her hands on her knees. "That's… one hundred! My god… that was exhausting!"
Kenta, still running, blinked in disbelief. "What?! I swear she took a break in the middle, and she still finished before us?"
Reiko smirked. "Idiots! That's why I finished before you. Ever heard of pacing?"
Just then, Rin and a few butlers arrived carrying trays from the mansion. Others had already set up a long table and chairs beneath the shade of a large tree.
Rin called out, "Everyone! Lunch is ready! Beck-sama asked us to serve it here!"
Beck was already seated, thanking the butlers politely. They bowed before leaving.
The moment Gyoda heard the word lunch, his eyes lit up. "Food!!" he shouted, instantly veering toward the table. In his excitement, he cut in front of Karna and Kenta—knocking all three of them down.
Kenta and Karna groaned in unison. "You moron! What are you doing!?"
Gyoda pointed dramatically. "Huh? You guys are the morons! Didn't you hear? Food's here!"
Karna scowled. "Gyoda!! I'm gonna kick your butt! We're still on our ninety-fifth lap!"
Gyoda grinned. "To hell with running—I'm eating!"
With an eager bounce in his step, he bolted toward the table, face glowing with joy. But just as he pulled out a chair, Jacob caught it mid-motion.
"I'm sorry," Jacob said firmly. "But you can't have lunch yet."
Gyoda froze, eyes wide. "Huh? What do you mean I can't eat?"
Jacob's tone stayed polite but unyielding. "You haven't finished your laps yet!."
Gyoda frowned. "You think you can stop me from eating? Who made you the lunch boss?"
Reiko's eyes twitched. She stood up immediately, smacked Gyoda on the head, and barked, "You idiot! We're guests here—show some respect!"
Gyoda rubbed his head. "Ow! What was that for!?"
"Apologize to Jacob-san," Reiko demanded.
"Alright, alright!" Gyoda bowed deeply. "I'm really sorry!"
Jacob nodded back with a courteous bow.
"Now go finish your laps," Reiko ordered.
"Yes, ma'am…" Gyoda muttered as he trudged off, rejoining Karna and Kenta.
Beck chuckled from his seat. "These guys look so fun to hang around with."
A few moments later, Fumiko stumbled toward the table, completely exhausted. She collapsed into a chair, gasping, "I'm… done with my… fifty laps…"
Reiko, still chewing, looked up with surprise. "Wow, Fumiko! You actually made it! That's amazing!"
"Thanks…" Fumiko managed between heavy breaths.
Right after, Haruto appeared, also panting. "I… I've never been… so hungry in my life…"
Rin smiled and bowed. "Haruto-sama, I made your favorite!"
Before Haruto could reach for a plate, Jacob stepped in again. "Not so fast, Haruto-sama! You haven't completed your laps either."
Haruto blinked, confused. "Huh? No, I'm done! I swear I finished them!"
Jacob shook his head politely. "No, Haruto-sama. You only did forty-nine."
Haruto groaned. "Ahh! That's almost fifty! Can't I take a short break and eat first?"
"I'm afraid not," Jacob said. "Beck-sama was very clear about this."
Beck smiled from the table. "Haruto! Finish that one last lap before your meal. I insist."
Haruto sighed, seeing Beck's teasing look. "…Alright, alright."
He turned and jogged back toward the track.
Meanwhile, Gyoda, Kenta, and Karna finished their final stretch.
"Hundred!!" they shouted together.
A dust cloud rose behind Gyoda as he sprinted ahead, yelling, "Out of the way!! Lunch, I'm coming for you!!"
They reached the table at the same time and immediately began piling food onto their plates, eating like wild beasts finally freed.
Haruto returned moments later, panting. "Fifty! I did it!" He collapsed into his chair, joining them at last.
As they all dug in, laughter echoed under the trees. Even Beck smiled faintly, resting his chin on his hand as he watched them.
"Alright," he said at last, standing. "Now that you've refueled… let's get to the real training. This was just to test your endurance."
The group froze mid-bite.
Beck's smile widened. "So then—shall we begin?"
Everyone groaned, still chewing but forcing out a tired, unified—"Yes…".
_____________________________________________________________________
Fhog City
Inside a dimly lit alehouse tucked deep in the city's maze of alleys, Hina and Goro sat in a corner booth, faces hidden beneath dark hoods. The low murmur of voices and clinking mugs masked their quiet conversation.
Hina leaned in. "According to the intel, he'll be at Bhoga Bar tonight. I don't see a way for us to get in without a fight. They'll recognize me immediately."
Goro crossed his arms. "Then I'll go in."
Hina's head snapped up. "What? That's insane! I can't let you walk in there alone. The intel says there might be B-class wizards—or worse. If we go together, we might have a fighting chance."
"I won't fight," Goro said calmly. "I'll go in, see if Bokto's really there, and fall back. Once he leaves, we tail him and strike when the time's right."
Hina hesitated, her brows drawn. "But…"
Goro gave a small grin. "Don't worry. I'll be in and out—just like that." He snapped his fingers with quiet confidence.
Hina sighed. "Alright. But be careful. We still don't know what kind of magic he uses. Not even the Council has records of it—and apparently, neither do his subordinates."
Goro frowned. "How does someone like him manage to hide that?"
"No one's seen him fight," Hina said. Her tone grew heavy. "And those who did… are dead."
Goro exhaled . "This one's going to be tough."
A few blocks away
In the southern quarter of Fhog City, Bokto lounged in a lavish private room above a gambling den. Velvet curtains draped the walls, dulling the noise from below. The dim golden lamps reflected off bottles stacked along the shelves, and the air carried the faint scent of tobacco and aged wine.
Nikharva sat opposite him, drink in hand, his broad frame relaxed but his eyes alert.
Outside the room, a caped man waited silently until Bokto gestured for him to enter. The messenger stepped forward, bowed, and held out a folded letter.
"Kashi-sama has a message for you, Bokto-sama," he said before stepping out.
Bokto broke the seal and skimmed the note. A faint smirk curved his lips. "And the trap is set."
Nikharva raised an eyebrow. "A trap? For Hina Mizuwoka?"
Bokto's smirk deepened. "And for the snitch."
Nikharva burst out laughing, his voice booming through the quiet room. "Two birds with one stone, huh? You never disappoint. Can I know the plan?"
Bokto leaned back in his chair, eyes glinting. "Patience, my friend. You'll see soon enough."
Nikharva chuckled, taking another sip of his drink. "Fine, I can wait. Besides, I'm more excited to see how my fight with Hina Mizuwoka turns out once we catch her."